Best Tent Camping near Metaline, WA
Colville National Forest surrounds Metaline, Washington with several primitive tent camping options, including the highly-rated Crescent Lake Campground located just one mile south of the Canadian border. This free, first-come, first-served campground features three tent sites nestled among thick pines uphill from a pristine lake with turquoise waters. Sullivan Creek Campgrounds offers both drive-in and walk-in tent sites along a creek, with larger sites that can accommodate multiple tents. Mill Pond Campground in Metaline Falls provides tent-only camping from Memorial Day to Labor Day, while Lake Thomas Campground, about 30 miles south, offers tent campsites with direct trail access to the lake.
Most tent campgrounds in the Metaline area feature basic amenities suited for self-sufficient campers. Sites typically include fire rings, picnic tables, and tent pads on natural surfaces. Bear boxes are provided at Crescent Lake and Sullivan Creek, indicating active wildlife in the region. Vault toilets are standard at most locations, but drinking water is rarely available, requiring campers to bring their own supply. Access roads to backcountry tent sites can be narrow with downhill slopes, sometimes requiring high-clearance vehicles. Winter snow often blocks access to higher elevation tent-only camping areas until late spring, with some forest service roads to Priest Lake only accessible during summer months.
Tent campers visiting Crescent Lake report exceptional wildlife viewing opportunities. According to one visitor, the area provides sightings of "turtles and frogs on the shores, as well as elk, deer, bald eagles and even a bear." The small size of these primitive tent campgrounds contributes to their quiet atmosphere, with Sullivan Creek offering sites spaced far enough apart that "the breeze and sounds of nature" drown out any neighboring noise. Walk-in tent sites throughout the region provide greater seclusion than drive-in options, with one camper noting that while drive-up sites on nearby lakes were full, walk-in areas remained empty even during peak season. Fall brings vibrant colors and fewer crowds to these backcountry tent camping locations.
